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Cobots and exoskeletons: when robots and human beings interact with each other

5 February, 2019

Robots have been incorporated into manufacturing and
logistics processes in many different sectors for many years. They can be seen
in all the production chains of automotive factories, working as forklifts or
autonomous loaders in large logistics centers and, increasingly, in small and
medium-sized companies, performing heavy or repetitive tasks. Even many
pharmacies already have an automated warehouse in which a robotic arm stores
and dispenses the medicines.

However, until very recently the robots had to work
in isolated environments and without human interaction (beyond the remote
control and the tasks of maintenance and repair thereof) since they were large,
heavy machines, capable of exercising much strength and with low capacity to
discern the environment in which they operate, so they are usually
“caged” in a physical space in which humans can not be present
while the robots operate, since the movement of the robots is preprogrammed and
they could hit a human being and not even find out about it.

One of the aspects of Artificial Intelligence is known
as “machine learning”. If until recently reprogramming a robot was a
complex and time-consuming task, more and more systems are being developed
that are able to “learn” by means of algorithms that allow them to
correct errors and increase efficiency. Thus, the more exposed the system
is to the manufacturing process, the more it learns and the more efficient it
is.

There are two new elements in Industry 4.0 related to
robotics, which are already operating in the most advanced factories and that
will gradually spread to the rest: We talk about the cobots
(abbreviation of “cooperative robots”) and the exoskeletons.

What is a cobot?

A cobot is a robot designed to operate safely in an environment in which there
are human beings. In fact, they usually work as assistants to human beings in tasks that
require a lot of precision. There are fixed and mobile, and all are equipped
with advanced sensors that allow them to continuously map their environment, detect
the presence of a human being in their security perimeter and turn off (if they
are fixed) or move out of their way (if they are mobile) . They are usually
much smaller and lighter than traditional robots.

Its main difference with a conventional robot lies in
that, while the robot is specifically designed for a specific task and executed
in the best possible way, a cobot can be easily reconfigured and even perform
several different tasks according to production needs. In short, a robot is
specialized and a cobot is versatile.

The cobots are not designed to replace humans, but to
complement them. For example, many of Amazon’s large logistics
warehouses have swarms of mobile cobots that help humans prepare orders by
going to look for products and bringing them closer. In addition, cobots can
also be designed to cooperate with each other and not hinder each other.
Following the previous example, the system that controls the Amazon cobots
optimizes its distribution in the warehouse, so that when a product is
requested it reaches the employee’s hands in the shortest possible time.

Exoskeletons: Making humans
stronger

Another fundamental aspect of advanced robotics is
the incorporation of physical aids to the human being to increase their
capabilities. They are the so-called exoskeletons, which are
“wearables” robots that allow a human being to carry weights without
having to make a great effort or use a robotic arm superimposed on their
own to be able to make more force or have more precision of movements.

Exoskeletons serve in environments where the human
being is the one who must perform a task, but this task requires specific
capabilities that not all human beings have. This facilitates the
management of personnel (we do not need to look for a person with special
strength skills or a surgeon’s pulse for high-precision work), in addition to
minimizing the risk of injuries, making work environments safer and more
comfortable for workers. employees.

Both cobots and exoskeletons are technologies that are
already available and that constitute another piece of Industry 4.0. It is not
only about increasing productivity, it is also about making the work of human
beings more comfortable and safer.

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